Passing the west ridge of Kilimanjaro.

“In my opinion this has to be one of the most rewarding flying jobs possible.”

Back in 1995, I decided that I wanted to do something that would benefit someone else other than the taxman. I started flying at the age of 14 so inevitably I guess it had to be aeroplane related - result, I formed a small aviation charity 'AvRICA' (Aviation Resource International Connecting Africa) scrounging medical equipment and funds in the UK and around Europe for Africa, AvRICA was soon getting involved in assisting other NGO's and agencies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Before long and very different working as a flying instructor, I found myself helping out in the front office of a Cessna C208 Grand Caravan dropping off doctors and supplies all over East Africa. Quite apart from anything else I had piloted the 'Van' is not as agile (nor as confined!) as a Hawker Hunter and again handling is very different from a lumbering four engine turboprop Argosy cargo aircraft I've flown. The C208 Grand Caravan however is one of the most eloquently sculptured single engine aircraft I've ever operated, durable, reliable, passenger oriented, cargo hungry, fuel miserly and a joy to fly. The pilot centred handling of the C208 is as diametrically opposed as it can be from that for instance of the old bouncy castle Auster, which was modelled more on the flight characteristics of a cross-eyed witch flying a broken a broomstick.

The air and ground crews who operate these aircraft on medi-vacs, medical team positioning flights, and supply drops, have my utmost admiration for their dedication to the job. I remember early on approaching one strip (in reality a dried up river bed) at a field hospital deep in Tanzania, after the obligatory beat-up to clear the Zebras, Buffalo and any other randomly mobile items that can bend aircraft parts, I set the aircraft up on finals - reflecting briefly as I neared the threshold, with passengers comprising a doctor and nurses, in a country where there's one doctor per 250,000 people - a great motivator for making 'greaser' landings. Flying doctors and equipment around Africa has its moments, on the last leg of one return flight from Moshi South of Kilimanjaro to Wilson Nairobi, the nose-wheel almost struck a frantic jinking Ostrich only missing its head by a couple of feet, which could have been awkward to explain this potential "large flightless bird strike" to operations - as at the time being 5,000 feet above mean sea level!

I don't recall how I started my water provision projects (windmills and pumps), but I do recall acknowledging that water is a basic need for all mankind and on a planet that is two thirds water, surly everyone must be entitled to their free share in order to survive. Kenya and Tanzania are beautiful countries with stunning scenery, but daily "life" in rural areas is just that - it's a struggle on a daily basis. Consider this - the cost of a gallon of motor fuel would pay for a mosquito net that could save a child's life, providing protection from the deadly hypodermic of an Anopheles mosquito laden with its deadly cargo of Malaria.

One undeniable fact remains, "you can't change Africa, but it will change you" and I believe it does so for the better, no matter how desperate things can get, eventually the optimism that has sustained Africa over millions of years wins through - I've seen many inspiring examples of this first hand.

In later years living the high life working as a senior executive for an oil and gas rich corporate in Dubai, flying around Qatar, Oman, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf states, it was sometimes challenging to remember that many folk struggle to find food and clean water every day. In the realm of an infinitely large universe this is a very tiny planet, fraught with rapidly reducing and contaminated resources. None of us is immune to the possibility of future hunger or hardship, collectively and as individuals we need to do what we can for those in desperate need - one day we might just need their help!

These days residing in New Zealand, with occasional trips back to the UAE I've enjoyed flying helicopters as well as fixed wing aircraft - I still catch myself looking up at a clear blue sky contemplating how things are in Africa. My nephew drives big passenger jets and considers his job the best in the world, it's certainly prestigious and well rewarded, but for me there can be nothing more satisfying (nor more challenging) than the work done by the Flying Doctors Services - anywhere.

Financial help is greatly appreciated and every cent/dime/penny donated goes to aviation medical support and water supply projects in Africa - all donations can now be made directly to AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation) via the AvRICA donations page link.

Pilots thought for the day - as my highly experienced and respected early days flying instructor (and author of many fine flight training books) - Ron D. Campbell complete with flamboyant RAF handlebar moustache, once voiced to an 'ab Initio student' (me) over half a century ago, "always remember - a good pilot makes the right decision at the right time", what ex-RAF wartime pilot Ron didn't know about flying you could print in large font on the back of a postage stamp!

B. Maurer.
AvRICA